TESTIMONIALS
"I wholeheartedly recommend Melisse as an instructor for artists at any level.  I have taken three introductory drawing classes with Melisse and am about to start my first painting class.  Melisse is passionate about art and a wise, kind, and supportive teacher, as well as a gifted artist in her own right.  She guided the class of beginning artists to understand fundamentals such as line, value, composition, negative space, etc., and apply them in their drawings.  Melisse works closely with each individual student in her classes.  She has an incredible eye and was instantly able to point out issues with my work of which I wasn’t even aware, and which made a big difference in the results.  I went from lacking the confidence to draw a straight line to completing a challenging pen-and-ink drawing in nine months.  It’s not an overstatement to say that Melisse’s classes have changed my life."

- Marie, student, group teaching
"Melisse is that rare teacher, who can address her student (me) at the level I am painting on.  When I started with her, I couldn’t have blocked out a painting with lights and shadows or sketched out a shape in proper perspective. Yet Melisse was able to reflect on what I was doing and give me goals that were a stretch but within reach.  She has helped me see more clearly and supported my efforts to represent an experience on canvas.  I’ve had many teachers in my life, in sports, in my work, and in art.  Melisse is truly a master teacher."

- Eileen, student, private instruction
"Melisse has excellent communication skills which enables her to guide (encourage) her students to do their best (reach their potential). Her deep knowledge and passion for art makes for a positive learning experience. Melisse always challenges her students in a way that provokes them to think and perform at a different level. I ❤️ my teacher!" 

- Fern, student, private instruction
"I'm now in my fourth class with Melisse and some of us have joked we've become her "groupies". I remember that very first day of Basic Drawing and Beyond when she said, "Make drawing a thing!", I had no idea the weight those words would carry. I went from just being happy I could draw a chair to now carrying a small sketchbook with me all the time. Her instruction goes beyond the classroom. I hear her voice as I'm out and about observing whether I'm holding a pen, a paintbrush or a camera. Melisse has a methodology in her teaching that guides everyone along regardless of where they are in their art journey. She is also a wonderful person and truly cares about the growth of her students."

​- Judy, student, group teaching
"I wanted to say thank you for being such a wonderful, supportive teacher. My relationship with drawing has totally changed since taking your class."

​- Barrett, student, group teaching
"It has been my privilege to know and work with Melisse for over a decade.  In 2013, I asked her to collaborate on writing a young adult novel. Neither of us had ever engaged in a project like it, but because our conversations had always taken unexpected and fruitful turns, we decided to give it a go. Throughout the three-year process of writing and re-writing, Melisse offered ingenious suggestions around blockages, made unexpected leaps of intuition, and made the process incredibly fun.  She prioritized our work together, and never failed to give it the important it deserved.

Melisse is a uniquely creative problem-solver, who consistently demonstrates intelligence and soul in every project she turns her attention to.  I look forward to our next collaboration."

​- Jan, creative collaboration